gradualism。Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracialjustice。NowisthetimetoopenthedoorsofopportunitytoallofGod'；schildren。Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood。
ItwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemomentandtounderestimatethedeterminationoftheNegro。ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro'；slegitimatediscontentwillnotpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality。Nineteensixty…threeisnotanend；butabeginning。ThosewhohopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual。TherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights。
Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges。ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeoplewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceofjustice。Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplacewemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds。Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred。
Wemustforeverconductourstruggleonthehighplaneofdignityanddiscipline。wemustnotallowourcreativeprotesttodegenerateintophysicalviolence。Againandagainwemustrisetothemajesticheightsofmeetingphysicalforcewithsoulforce。
ThemarvelousnewmilitancywhichhasengulfedtheNegromunitymustnotleadustodistrustofallwhitepeople；formanyofourwhitebrothers；asevidencedbytheirpresenceheretoday；haveetorealizethattheirdestinyistiedupwithourdestinyandtheirfreedomisinextricablyboundtoourfreedom。
Wecannotwalkalone。Andaswewalk；wemustmakethepledgethatweshallmarchahead。Wecannotturnback。Therearethosewhoareaskingthedevoteesofcivilrights；〃；Whenwillyoubesatisfied？〃；wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongasourbodies；heavywith